Evacuee Killed in FEMA Trailer Fire After Expressing Concerns to FEMA

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CARLYSS, La. (AP) – A fire has engulfed a FEMA trailer, claiming the life of a Cameron Parish evacuee who lost her home during Hurricane Rita.

The victim had previously gone to the news media with concerns about the trailer’s safety. The fire’s cause is unknown.

The Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 51-year-old Ellen Schools. Carlyss Fire Chief Jude Savoie says Wednesday’s fire was heavily involved when firefighters arrived.

Schools had expressed problems with the FEMA trailer in the past. In May, she spoke to Lake Charles television station KPLC about exposure to formaldehyde in the two-bedroom mobile home. She said the exposure was causing headaches, a sore throat and sinus problems.

According to the report, Schools said FEMA suggested that she open her windows to alleviate the problem.

A FEMA official had no comment about whether Schools had reported problems in the past. He did say, however, that a FEMA safety group is investigating the fire.

New Task Contract Awarded For Temporary Housing Units

Release Date: August 4, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-152

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a contract to TL Industries of Elkhart, Indiana to provide two-bedroom, park model temporary housing units.  The contract was awarded following a competitive process, through which the offer from TL Industries was determined to represent the best value to the government.

The contract requirements are based on a new set of procurement specifications for manufactured housing that were developed by FEMA in coordination with the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Affairs (DHS/OHA).  The new procurement specifications for indoor air quality include a requirement that formaldehyde emission levels must be significantly reduced inside the units. Each unit must test below .016 parts per million (ppm) prior to acceptance by FEMA. Moreover, this contract provides a critical resource in support of the National Disaster Housing Strategy.  For more information on the Housing Strategy, visit www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45190.
Award of similar contracts for three-bedroom mobile homes and alternative housing strategies are forthcoming, based on other competitive solicitations, and will further contribute to FEMA’s housing capabilities.
“FEMA is committed to providing safe temporary housing that meets the needs of disaster victims,” said FEMA Administrator David Paulison. “This contract allows FEMA to provide housing proven to meet significantly reduced formaldehyde emission levels.  Additionally, because TL Industries is a small business, we are both meeting the mission needs and enabling small businesses to contribute to the FEMA mission.”
FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.